korea :: seoul :: general

[always_hungry]

free if your playing. they'll keep their eyes on you, if you aint spendin they'll cut you off,

i think coex is better than walkerhill, they have free meals if your on the tables.

[Ahlvahroe]

my friend is leaving on the 14th, so saturday night will be an eve filled with feasting and drunk festivities followed by a trip to the casino

come one, come all

cool saturday it is. let me know where and what time and ill be sure to be there. except i dont know if i can do a casino trip, im kinda unemployed now, and i get way too addicted to gambling

[jyoo]

cool saturday it is. let me know where and what time and ill be sure to be there. except i dont know if i can do a casino trip, im kinda unemployed now, and i get way too addicted to gambling

no such thing.

[Ahlvahroe]

thanks for everything guys, hella helpful with everything. so even though i never got everything from you ill still pray... at the temple, ha. till we meet again.

[ruach]

Because I asked about it before coming here, I thought I would do a little post about experimental music/whatever in Seoul for those interested in this sort of thing. While small, I definitely have found some interesting things. I am mainly familiar with what is going on with the gallery Yogiga and those around it, but there seems to be another little circle, too, which is more straight-forward noise and I don't know much about.

Yogiga (http://www.yogiga.com) is an art gallery/performance space near Hapjeong station which hosts a lot of events. In particular is the monthly experimental music series called Bulgasari. The event is organized by Yukie Sato (http://www.satoyukie.com), a Japanese musician who has been living here for about eleven years, and has been running for a little over seven years. First occurring at Rush in Shinchon, then some other spaces, now pretty much exclusively at Yogiga. The event is basically an open space for anyone who wants to participate; very inclusive and inviting. Sato has brought over many musicians (his Japanese friends, more often than not) for special Bulgasari nights and organized tours here for many more; Otomo Yoshihide, Chie Mukai, Acid Mothers Temple guys, Jojo Hiroshige (Alchemy Records/Hijokaidan), Seiichi Yamamoto (Boredoms, etc), Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru), etc etc etc. Sato's own music is also quite nice; he has several sides, doing his own folk songs, covers of Korean classics, and his noise improv.

So that is my favourite little circle.

Between Sangsu and Hopjeong stations is a nice bar/cafe called Mudaeryuk (http://club.cyworld.com/ClubV1/Home.cy/51397379) which is host to weekly concerts, often involving some Yogiga-involved people, as well as other interesting musicians of the area.

Theater Zero (http://www.theater0.com) next to the children park in Hongdae hosts a lot of events. It was closed for a bit for remodeling (or something) but it is now open and hosting events again. Last month I participated in a special Bulgasari concert there. I don't know if he is the owner or organizer or exactly what, but one particular main guy there has lived in Hongdae for a very long time and has seen and helped to shape the area's becoming.

So that is basically that side of it. A Yogiga frequenter, Michael Oakley, wrote an article about the "scene" in the current issue of the English language magazine Groove Korea that has a bunch of links, etc.

Sato will be playing a bunch of shows this month, some with his band 곱창전골 which features a great Japanese guitarist who plays in Kim Chang Wan's band. http://yogiga.com/yukie/01_liveschedule/index.html

Also Bulgasari is the last Sunday of every month.

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(rock and roll Sato)

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(folky Sato)

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(noisy nonsense Sato)

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(great bassist who used to play with Shin Jung Hyeon)

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(Yogiga owner, Han Joo, with a regular participant and one Japanese musician)

[ruach]

I think I asked for nice food at some point, too, so I might as well post a few favourite finds of that, as well. I find so many restaurants which are just "okay" so I am always searching for places I would actually want to frequent.

방자네 산골물 near Anguk Station. Some random blog has a good representation of its wonders -- http://blog.naver.com/7irene?Redirect=Log&logNo=70066598153 Delicious food in an old hanok without being at all cheesy like so many other places. Good prices and super nice people.

한옥집 in Hapjeong (where this little sign is. Another delicious place in an old hanok (obviously) with super nice old people working. Also very cheap. Dishes (boribap, pajeon, jjigae, dduk guk, etc) are 6000won and dongdongju is 4000won or something. This has been becoming a weekly place for me.

I had some crazy delicous knife-cut noodles at Ranju Ramien, east of Hoehyan station, east across from Shinsegae.

Also I had amazing 보신탕 here in Shinchon.

[monn]

Edit:

Been here two month now and I'm getting tired off english teachers, stuck up bitches (french friend of my hugged a girl at Uni and got sent to the sexual harassment office), and clubs where everybody is looking at the dj when they're dancing!

I really need a good clubbing experience! Been to Eden, Heaven, Mass, Mansion and unfortunately some Itaewon places that where shit. Only ok time at clubs I've had here is at White Noize and Punk as Fuck at Answer.

So I guess my question is: Where do you guys go to really party? I need a place where girls are in a party mood and actually wanna dance without it actually having to lead somewhere (already got at gf).

[thomas_highstreet]

i dont even bother with answer anymore. if im looking to have a 'mindblowing' night, thats the last place id go to.

there used to be some great parties in seoul, but since suk khun jumped ship there is really fuck all that wets my reed these days.

i've come to realise, the fun to be had in korea is, well, korean. soju drinking games, hunting bitches in hiphop clubs, 5am suljip sessions and love motels.

when in rome do as romans do

of course, this doesnt really work if your hanging out with english teachers, need to befriend some locals to have any real fun... that or be part of a tight knit and korean[pop]culture savvy crew of foreigners that have no shame.

[thomas_highstreet]

^^ ruach - i'd be up for going to some of the shows.. if your stil in seoul drop me a pm and we'll exchange numbers.. ill be back in town on the 22nd

[monn]

i've come to realise, the fun to be had in korea is, well, korean. soju drinking games, hunting bitches in hiphop clubs, 5am suljip sessions and love motels.

when in rome do as romans do

of course, this doesnt really work if your hanging out with english teachers, need to befriend some locals to have any real fun... that or be part of a tight knit and korean[pop]culture savvy crew of foreigners that have no shame.

My best experience here was actually shitfaced and at a norebang with a bunch of skanky singinggirls. Guess the problem is that it's fucking hard to get to know koreans, and that most SNU students are boring as fuck. Definitely no hunting bitches or love motels there. Fucking grown guys giggling when they talk about kissing.

If there's no more tips on clubbing I guess I'll just have to start hunting bitches at harlem?

Edit:

i dont even bother with answer anymore. if im looking to have a 'mindblowing' night, thats the last place id go to.

I was just trying to cheer myself up and be positive. I guess the truth is that answer has been ok and everywhere else I've been was shit. You might disagree, though.

[thscharmingman]

best advice for korea: don't hang around people who teach english... peace

[greasypeanut]

nah even better advice....make friends with koreans.

[quasky]

experimental music in seoul

wicked post, ruach, exactly what i've been looking for. been searching for good local acts since i got here around three months ago, and haven't found much besides crummy punk bands at ff. will be checking some of this stuff out.

i'll definitely echo the sentiment that there's way more fun to be had hanging with koreans than with other foreigners. almost all the other foreigners i know are english teachers, and we, as a group, are mostly mutants.

[ruach]

A bunch of Yogiga-related things this month, including Sato Yukie's band's dates. The Japanese guitarist Masami Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi Masami's New Rock Syndicate, Miminokoto, LSD-March, etc) will be joining the band from the 21st.

From this event link..

4/17

at Mudaeryuk 6:00 pm　

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Shin Chan Ho & Yup Juns(Shin Jung Hyun tribute band), Hwang Bo Ryoung, Third Stone

club.cyworld.com/mu1224

at Yogiga 12:00 pm

Yogiga's Birthday!

Raunch Pad, Lee Han Joo, Jo Young Min, more

http://www.yogiga.com

4/18

at Veloso　4:00 pm

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Park Gi Hyeok(Hi Mr. Memory), Park Chang Geun

http://www.veloso.co.kr

4/20

at Yogiga 6:00 pm　

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Indian Soonie

http://www.yogiga.com

4/21

at Blue Bird Yeonhee-dong

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, more

http://www.clubbluebird.com

4/22

at Bbang 7:00 pm

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Tamyo

http://cafebbang.cyworld.com

http://cafe.daum.net/cafebbang

4/23

at Yogiga 7:00 pm

My [Michael Oakley of Raunch Pad] birthday. No bands are playing, but if you want to come by, get drunk, and watch "Ghostbusters" feel free to.

http://www.yogiga.com

4/23 & 24

at Theater Zero 7:30 pm　

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Koguryo Band

http://www.theater0.com

4/25

BULGASARI 4:30 pm

at Yogiga Gallery

Lee Han Joo, Jo Young Min, Kim Bong Gyo, Raunch Pad.

http://www.yogiga.com

at Strange Fruit 8:00 pm

Sato Yukie & Kopchanjeongol, Morinaga Akira(from Japan), Tamyo

4/29

at Mudaeryuk 7:00 pm

Raunch Pad (quiet set), 개구리들

club.cyworld.com/mu1224

at Theater Zero 7:00 pm

Special Bulgasari event. Lee Han Joo, Sato Yukie, Jo Young Min, Kim Bong Gyo, maybe Raunch Pad.

http://www.theater0.com

[thomas_highstreet]

see you on the 25th mangg

[ruach]

As I mentioned earlier, Sato Yukie's band Kopchanjeongol is playing this weekend at Theater Zero. His performing alone is great enough as it is, and with the full band it is something else entirely. Kim Bok Ju, a singer who defected from North Korea, will also be performing.

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[thomas_highstreet]

shit....... Icelandic volcanic ash clouds = postponed travel.

didnt want to get caught in any more delays so i just rebooked with a fair buffer zone.. see you on the 9th may seoul brotherz

[RFKorp]

Because I asked about it before coming here, I thought I would do a little post about experimental music/whatever in Seoul for those interested in this sort of thing. While small, I definitely have found some interesting things. I am mainly familiar with what is going on with the gallery Yogiga and those around it, but there seems to be another little circle, too, which is more straight-forward noise and I don't know much about.

Awesome post, man. I wish I'd been around when you were asking for this advice in the first place. My buddy Joe has been in Seoul a few years now and jams with the bulgasari/etc crew pretty regularly.

I don't know if RELAY is still going but that seemed to be a pretty great concert series. Moved from venue to venue though. Dotolim is easier to track down though and it's definitely still active. http://www.dotolim.com/ If I was in Seoul, I wouldn't miss this saturday's concert for anything. Joonyong and Sangtae are both great innovative players on record.

[ruach]

Is that Mr. Oakley?

I actually ran into him about an hour ago on my way back home from the Hapjeong area. He was heading to Yogiga as I was passing it.

I haven't been to Dotolim yet, but it is on my radar. That's the more electronic side of things that I am not as familiar with.

[dismalfuture]

shit....... Icelandic volcanic ash clouds = postponed travel.

didnt want to get caught in any more delays so i just rebooked with a fair buffer zone.. see you on the 9th may seoul brotherz

haha, I was wondering if that caught you up or not. I might be gf-free in the future (?) so i will be allowed to hang out with you if so

[RFKorp]

Is that Mr. Oakley?

I actually ran into him about an hour ago on my way back home from the Hapjeong area. He was heading to Yogiga as I was passing it.

I haven't been to Dotolim yet, but it is on my radar. That's the more electronic side of things that I am not as familiar with.

Oakley? No, talking about a Mr. Foster. Whatever.

edit:

[ruach]

Ah hah. That is another Bulgasari original. I haven't met him as he hasn't seemed to be participating in Yogiga things for a while, but I do know of him.

I've been spending way too much time lately tracking down endangered 70s apartments in Seoul.

[ruach]

[thomas_highstreet]

dismal: shit.. for realz? the balla lifestyle kicking in and time to dump the baggage? haha

rauch: interested in setting up a squat/venue? - think its time i got extra-curricular.

[Guest umhaha84]

will probably fly to seoul to convince my ex to be with me....staying three days...

life sux....

[thomas_highstreet]

lolz ur such a pussy.

[ruach]

rauch: interested in setting up a squat/venue? - think its time i got extra-curricular.

I will only be here for about another month. Probably not long enough to be worthwhile for that sort of thing. I do know someone, though, who was looking for other people to help continue leasing a gallery space with him near Mangwon Station. I'm not sure where that stands right now, but send me a PM if you might be interested.

[keykoo]

Does anyone in Seoul Carry margiela? I've had a tough time finding a black five zip in the US in my size and am hoping it will be easier to find here.

[Scais]

they hav a store in apgu galleria

[Headmut]

just got invited to do a semester of studies at yonsei in seoul....

does anyone have any tips to finding a place? im only going to be there for 4 months...from what i hear trying to rent a place there can be crazy, with that key deposit business. any areas i should be looking at in particular? i want to be close to campus ideally.

i have the option of staying with a korean family...i have no idea what the family life is like there...anyone have any recommendations?